BOSTON (Ticker) -- Antoine Walker and Bryant Stith combined for
31 second-half points and led an impressive 3-point barrage as
the Boston Celtics rallied for a 106-99 victory over the woeful
Atlanta Hawks, who lost their 21st consecutive road game.

Walker shook off a dismal first half, scoring 18 of his 22
points after intermission, and Stith collected 13 of his 15 in
the second half to lift Boston to consecutive victories for the
first time since opening the season with two wins.

The Celtics made 10-of-21 3-pointers, with Walker and Stith
combining to go 6-of-9.

"We shot the ball a lot better in the second half but I think
that came from recognizing the open men like Brian, who were
being left open because if their double teams," Walker said.

Trailing by 10 points early in the third quarter, Boston drained
four 3-pointers -- three by Stith -- during a 17-6 run that
opened a 65-64 lead with 3:28 left.

Boston took a 76-71 lead after three quarters and never was
threatened in the final period.

Jimmy Jackson scored 20 points for Atlanta, which owns the NBA's
worst record (1-9) and has not won on the road since a 95-87
victory at Seattle on February 25.

The Hawks, who are 0-7 away from Philips Arena this season, are
eight losses shy of the franchise record for road futility set
from January 28-November 26, 1976.

"We didn't make the right plays in the third and fourth quarters
-- they made adjustments on us and we didn't have an answer,"
Jackson said. "I think our attitude is as positive as it can
be, considering the fact we've lost nine of 10. I think we all
realize that we're close, we're not getting blown out we have to
hang in there."

Paul Pierce collected 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists
for Boston, which shot a scintilating 68 percent (21-of-31) in
the second half to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit.

"We weren't very good in that first half but I thought you saw
the dominating play we want to establish in the second half,"
Stith said. "Whenever I can get out on the perimeter and be an
option for Paul or Antoine, I'm going to try to knock down open
shots, I was fortunate enough to be able to do that tonight."

Walker, who closed the third quarter with a 3-pointer, began the
fourth with another, and Pierce, Vitaly Potapenko and Rick
Brunson followed with baskets to give Boston an 83-71 cushion
with 9:39 to go.

The Celtics took their largest lead, 102-86, on Walker's
3-pointer with 3:10 remaining and coasted to their fourth
straight win over Atlanta.

Boston shot just 29 percent in the first half but had numerous
second-chance opportunities and hit 12-of-15 free throws to draw
within 49-42 at intermission.

"I think we all knew at halftime we didn't play very well but we
didn't get down, we came in and made some adjustments to their
double and triple teams," Pierce said.

Tony Battie scored 11 points and Chris Herren had seven and nine
assists for the Celtics, who held a 39-33 rebounding edge and
outscored the Hawks in the paint by a 23-5 margin.

"It's another example of us playing real hard, being real close
but not doing what it takes to win," Hawks coach Lon Kruger
said. "We have a real hard time in matchups with Walker and
Paul Pierce. We tried to compensate for that with double teams
and they made us pay in the second half."